Labor, transport groups plan nationwide protest vs gas, price hikes

President Aquino congratulates Jericho Petilla after the Leyte governor took his oath as energy secretary at Naia 2. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Fed up with the continued increase in the prices of fuel and other commodities, militant groups, including a transport group, announced Wednesday the holding of a “nationwide protest” on July 16.

At the weekly Fernandina forum in San Juan City, George San Mateo, national president of the transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston), said the protest, organized by the  Kilusang Mayo Uno, would be held in “primary urban centers,” and would take place almost a week before Aquino’s state of the nation address on July 22.

Apart from Piston, he said, Bayan and Anakpawis, among others, would be joining the move against “increasing prices of oil, electricity and water,” demolitions, and impending increases in electricity and Metro Rail Transit rates.

While he could not say how many would be joining the activity, he said around 500 members of Piston would participate in the afternoon event.

He said his group decided to join the nationwide protest during a two-day national council attended by members of 13 Piston chapters over the weekend.

According to San Mateo, Piston would hold a “transport caravan”—not a transport strike or “tigil pasada”—in the morning of the same day.

He said the caravan, which he expects to be participated in by around 200 Piston members, would be in protest of the continued increase in fuel prices.

He said the details of the planned caravan would be disclosed as “the day nears.”

According to San Mateo, gasoline prices have recorded a “whopping” cumulative increase of P10.30 for the entire year and diesel prices, a cumulative increase of P8.90 during the same period.

He said oil companies have raised the price of gasoline 15 times this year, and of diesel 14 times.

San Mateo also slammed Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla’s proposal for automatic adjustments of fares based on the movement of oil prices.

“This is a diversionary tactic. He wants the commuters and drivers to fight,” San Mateo said, adding commuters “weren’t used to” volatile fares.

“That would be very messy,” he said.

“There should be a big rollback in oil instead, and the (12 percent value-added tax on oil) scrapped,” he said.

He said discounts should be given to all public transportation vehicles at all gas stations nationwide.